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lisinopril
Used for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Hypertension
Used for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Hypertension
Lisinopril (Zestril) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, or ACE inhibitor. It's used to treat high blood pressure in people 6 years and older. In adults, it's also approved to manage heart failure and to lower the risk of death after a heart attack. Lisinopril (Zestril) comes as a tablet that's taken by mouth once daily. There's also an oral solution available under the brand name Qbrelis. Some side effects include dizziness, cough, and headache.
What is Lisinopril (Zestril)?
What is Lisinopril (Zestril) used for?
- High blood pressure in people ages 6 years and older
- Heart failure in adults
- Lowering the risk of death after a heart attack in adults
How Lisinopril (Zestril) works
Lisinopril (Zestril) is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. It works by blocking a protein in your body called ACE from making angiotensin II, a hormone that normally squeezes your blood vessels.
By blocking ACE, lisinopril (Zestril) helps your blood vessels relax and open up. This lowers your blood pressure. It makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body and lowers stress on your heart.
When does Lisinopril (Zestril) start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Zestril, Qbrelis |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | ACE inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) essentials
Side effects of Lisinopril (Zestril)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness (up to 19%)
- Low blood pressure (up to 11%)
- Higher creatinine levels (up to 10%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Cough
- Feeling faint
- Headache
- High potassium levels
Lisinopril (Zestril) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Angioedema (severe swelling): swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; swelling of the arms or legs; stomach pain; trouble breathing; wheezing
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face; trouble breathing; rash; hives
- Very low blood pressure: dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling faint
- Serious kidney problems: urinating less often than usual; swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands; unexplained weight gain
- High potassium levels: tiredness, nausea, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, irregular heartbeat
- Serious liver problems: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, confusion, dark or brown urine
When do Lisinopril (Zestril) possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Dizziness
Headache
Dry cough
High creatinine or potassium
Risk of facial swelling
Seek immediate medical care if you experience this side effect.
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) side effects
The following Lisinopril (Zestril) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision
cloudy urine
confusion
decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
sweating
unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
lack or loss of strength
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
rash
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$13.68
GoodRx discount
$7.79
Pros and cons of Lisinopril (Zestril)
Pros
- Taken by mouth once per day
- A first-choice medication for high blood pressure
- Also helpful for heart failure and after a heart attack
- Okay for children as young as 6 years old to take to treat high blood pressure
Cons
- More likely to cause dry cough than ARBs
- Can make you feel dizzy, especially at first
- Might not work as well for lowering blood pressure in Black people
- Not safe during pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Lisinopril (Zestril)
- You can take lisinopril (Zestril) with or without food at any time of day. It's most important to choose a time that works best for you and easy for you to remember. Take it around the same time each day to help you get consistent results.
- If you're taking lisinopril (Zestril) for blood pressure, it's a good idea to check your blood pressure regularly at home. Write down your readings and bring them to your follow-up appointments. This can help you and your prescriber see how well the medication is working for you. They can see if you need any dose adjustments.
- Dry cough can be a common side effect of lisinopril (Zestril). It often happens within the first few weeks or months of treatment, but it can also happen at any time. To help relieve this dry cough, try honey and a humidifier. But if it bothers you too much, tell your prescriber. They can help choose a different medication for you.
- You might feel dizzy when you start taking lisinopril (Zestril) and when you switch to a higher dose. This can happen because the medication can lower your blood pressure. But it should get better over time as you continue to take the medication and as your body gets used to your new blood pressure. Stand up slowly and carefully to avoid falling. If you feel too faint, pass out, or fall, tell your prescriber.
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated while taking lisinopril (Zestril). This is especially important on hot days or after exercising. Your blood pressure might drop too much if you get dehydrated. This can worsen dizziness and raise your risk of falls.
- Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the medications you take or plan to take. Lisinopril (Zestril) can interact with other medications and can be harmful. For example, taking it with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil) can cause kidney problems. Your care team can make sure your medications are safe to take together and make changes if needed.
- Work with your care team or a dietician to create healthy meal plans that are low in salt. This can help lower your blood pressure and support your heart health.
- Talk to your prescriber before using any salt substitutes that contain potassium. Lisinopril (Zestril) can raise your potassium levels. And salt substitutes with potassium can raise it even more. This can be dangerous.
- If you're pregnant: Don't take lisinopril (Zestril) and talk to your prescriber. This medication can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. Your prescriber can help you choose a safer option. For high blood pressure during pregnancy, there are other safer medications options. They might also suggest lifestyle changes to help keep your heart healthy.
More tips for Qbrelis (lisinopril) 1 mg/mL liquid:
- Only use an oral syringe or medication dose cup from the pharmacy to measure out your dose of Qbrelis (lisinopril). Never use household spoons because they aren't accurate, which can cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask the pharmacy for extra oral syringes or medication dose cups.
- Store Qbrelis (lisinopril) at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF.
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) tips
Risks and warnings for Lisinopril (Zestril)
Lisinopril (Zestril) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Harm to an unborn baby
Don't take lisinopril (Zestril) while pregnant. This medication can seriously harm an unborn baby. It can cause problems with the baby's kidneys and other birth defects.
If you become pregnant while taking lisinopril (Zestril), stop the medication and tell your care team right away. Talk to your primary care provider or prescriber about a safer option for you. There are safer treatment options for high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Angioedema (swelling)
- Risk factors: Black people | Having angioedema in the past
Although rare, people who take ACE inhibitors like lisinopril (Zestril) can have a serious reaction called angioedema. This involves swelling in different parts of the body, including the face, tongue, throat, and neck. Tongue or throat swelling can be life-threatening since it can make it hard to breathe.
Angioedema can happen at any time during treatment. The risk might be higher for Black people as well as older adults and people of female sex.
Get medical help right away if you have swelling of your face, mouth, tongue, throat, or neck. Also get help right away if you have trouble breathing, wheeze, or feel dizzy or faint. And call your care team right away if you have severe stomach pain (this can be a sign of swelling in the stomach). If angioedema happens, you'll have to stop taking lisinopril (Zestril).
Low blood pressure
- Risk factors: Not enough fluid in your body (e.g., dehydration) | Having diarrhea or vomiting for a long time | Heart failure with low blood pressure | Other heart problems | Low oxygen to the heart or brain | Dialysis | Low sodium | Taking high doses of a diuretic
Sometimes, lisinopril (Zestril) can make your blood pressure drop too much. Low blood pressure can make you feel dizzy, tired, or lightheaded. This side effect is more common when you first start the medication and when the dose is raised.
If your blood pressure drops too much and you feel dizzy, sit down slowly until you feel better. Hold onto something sturdy when you stand back up to help keep your balance. If you often feel dizzy, lightheaded, faint, tired, or confused often while taking lisinopril (Zestril), tell your prescriber. And if you fall and hit your head, get medical help right away.
Possible worsening of kidney problems
- Risk factors: Severe heart failure | Kidney problems | Not enough fluid in your body | Taking other medications that can cause kidney damage | History of narrow heart valves (aortic stenosis)
Lisinopril (Zestril) can help protect the kidneys for some people. But in some cases, it can make kidney problems worse. This risk might be higher if you already have kidney problems, have severe heart failure, or had a heart attack.
Your prescriber might order lab tests while you take lisinopril (Zestril). This helps them check that your kidneys are healthy and working properly. Also tell your care team about all the medications you take so they can check for any that can worsen kidney function.
Watch for signs that your kidneys might not be working well, like urinating less than usual. If this happens, tell your care team so they can see what's going on.
High potassium levels
- Risk factors: Diabetes | Kidney problems | Taking other medications that also raise potassium | Taking potassium supplements | Using salt substitutes that contain potassium
Lisinopril (Zestril) can raise your potassium levels, which can be dangerous. The risk is greater if you have diabetes or kidney problems. The risk is also higher if you take other medications or supplements that raise potassium. Make sure your care team knows your full medical history and all the medications you take.
Symptoms of high potassium include tiredness, nausea, muscle weakness, or numbness or tingling. It might also cause an irregular heartbeat. Tell your care team right away if you notice these symptoms while taking lisinopril (Zestril).
Liver problems
It's rare, but ACE inhibitors like lisinopril (Zestril) might be linked to the development of a blocked bile duct. This can lead to liver problems and sometimes even liver failure. Your prescriber might order blood tests to check your liver health from time to time.
Watch for symptoms of liver problems while taking lisinopril (Zestril). This can include tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. If this happens, let your care team know right away so they can check out what's going on.
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) warnings
Lisinopril (Zestril) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 20mg of Lisinopril (Zestril) is $7.79 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 43.06% off the average retail price of $13.68. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5mg | 90 tablets | $13.67 | $0.15 |
| 5mg | 90 tablets | $12.43 | $0.14 |
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $12.66 | $0.14 |
| 20mg | 30 tablets | $7.79 | $0.26 |
| 30mg | 90 tablets | $17.14 | $0.19 |
| 40mg | 90 tablets | $17.57 | $0.20 |
Typical dosage for Lisinopril (Zestril)
-
High blood pressure
- Adults: The typical starting dose is 10 mg by mouth once daily. If you're also taking a water pill, the typical starting dose of lisinopril (Zestril) is 5 mg by mouth once daily. Your prescriber will adjust your dose based on your blood pressure. The typical maintenance dose ranges from 20 mg to 40 mg once daily.
- Children ages 6 years and older: The prescriber will determine the dose based on your child's body weight. The typical starting dose is 0.07 mg/kg of body weight (up to 5 mg) by mouth once daily. The prescriber will adjust the dose based on your child's blood pressure. The maximum dose is 0.61 mg/kg (up to 40 mg) once daily.
-
Heart failure
- Adults: The typical starting dose is 5 mg by mouth once daily. Your starting dose might be lower if you have low sodium. The maximum dose is 40 mg once daily.
-
After a heart attack
- Adults: The typical dose is 5 mg by mouth once daily for 2 days. Then, continue at 10 mg once daily for at least 6 weeks. Your dose might be lower if you have low blood pressure after the heart attack.
Your dose might be different if you have kidney problems.
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) dosage
Interactions between Lisinopril (Zestril) and other drugs
Lisinopril (Zestril) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Lisinopril (Zestril). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Lisinopril (Zestril) interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Aliskiren
- Sacubitril
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alteplase, Recombinant
- Amiloride
- Azathioprine
- Azilsartan
- Azilsartan Medoxomil
- Candesartan Cilexetil
- Canrenoate
- Eplerenone
- Eprosartan
- Everolimus
- Irbesartan
- Lithium
- Losartan
- Mercaptopurine
- Olmesartan Medoxomil
- Potassium
- Potassium Phosphate
- Sirolimus
- Spironolactone
- Telmisartan
- Triamterene
- Trimethoprim
- Valsartan
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aspirin
- Azosemide
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bumetanide
- Bupivacaine
- Bupivacaine Liposome
- Capsaicin
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Clonixin
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Furosemide
- Gold Sodium Thiomalate
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Nesiritide
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Octreotide
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piretanide
- Piroxicam
- Proglumetacin
- Propionic Acid
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Rofecoxib
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tizanidine
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Torsemide
- Valdecoxib
How much does Lisinopril (Zestril) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Lisinopril (Zestril) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Lisinopril (Zestril) will not be safe for you to take.
- History of angioedema
- History of allergic reaction related to an ACE inhibitor
- Taking at the same time as aliskiren (Tekturna) for people with diabetes
- Taking at the same time or within 36 hours of a neprilysin inhibitor, such as Entresto (sacubitril / valsartan)
What are alternatives to Lisinopril (Zestril)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Lisinopril (Zestril). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Lisinopril (Zestril) images
